Picket-fence machine



(Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

T. J. BULL.

PIGKET FENCE MACHINE.

No; 248,399. Patented Oct. 18,1881.

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T. J. BULL.

PIOKET FENCE MACHINE.

NO.248,399. I Patented Oct. 18,1881.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS N. PETERS. Plmlwlllhagmpher, WJshinglalL D. c.

UNiran STATES PATENT @FFEQE THOMAS J. BULL, or nor sPRiNes, ARKANSAS.

PlCKET-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,399, dated October 18, 1881. Application filed August23, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. BULL, a citizen of the United States, resident of Hot Springs, in the county of Garland and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Machines for Making Picket-Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a top view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section, and Fig. 3 is an end view.

This invention has relation to machines for making picket-fences, and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates the bed frame of the machine, recessed at B. and 0 to receive and permit the gearing to revolve, and recessed, also, at D to permit the revolution of the spoolcarrying arms E.

The main driving-gear F is provided with cogs a, and a space equal to four cogs is left plain on the periphery, in order to provide a stop at a certain time, as will be hereinafter explained.

b 0 represent the double gear, the former engaging the main gear F, and the latter, on the same shaft, engaging the gears H I, secured to the hollow journals J K, located on opposite sides of the gear 0. The hollow journals J K are each provided with an arm, E, projecting upwardly and rearwardly, and each provided with a revolving spool, M, upon the horizontal portion of the arm, and an eye or guide, 0, for the securing-wire N in the end of the arm.

From the rear of the bed-frame arms P extend, in which a Windlass, Q, is journaled, and whichis provided at one end with a band-wheel, R, having a wristpin, S, to which one end of a pitman, T, is attached, the other end of the pitman being connected to the crank (Z of a rock-shaft, U, supported in bearingsin uprights V V, rising from the bed-frame in rear of the recess D.

A designates the stringers to which the pickets B are to be fastened, near the top and bottorn, by the securing-wires carried on the spools. The stringer-wires A are first passed through hollowjournals J K, and then secured to the Windlass, so that they may, together with the pickets, be wound upon the Windlass, preferably in sections convenient for storing and transportation. The securing-Wire is wound upon the spools by hand, and is connected to the wire stringers in front or before the first slat or picket. The securing-wires pass down through the eyes or guides 0 from the spools to the points IO which they are twisted upon the stringers, leaving aspace between the arms E and the point of junction of the stringers and the securing-wires.

The bed-plate A is provided with a stop, 0, at one side of the recess D, to cause the tops of the pickets to be aligned. The rock-shaft U is provided with downwardly-curved feedingarms D, which are operated by the Windlass and pitman-connection to feed the slat or picket forward at intervals, which may be determined and regulated by changing the speed of the windlass and of the driving-shaft E in any of the well-known ways familiar to machinists.

In operation the slats or pickets are fed in above the stringers in front of the arms and between the stringers and the twist of the securing-wires. The twists of thesecuring-wir'es' are made by revolving the hollow journaled arms, carrying the spools and securing-wire several times around the stringers, a stop being effected at the point where the plain portion of the main driving-gear has the plain periphery. At this point the Windlass draws the stringers forward, and the feeding-arms force the pickets against the first twist, and the securing-wires are drawn over the pickets and again twisted several times around the stringers, and this operation is repeated until a section of fence is completed, after which it may be removed from the Windlass and another section constructed.

Alternate pickets of wood and wire may be woven in this manner, or a fence constructed entirely of wire pickets may be made.

The spaces between the pickets may be varied by regulating the speed of the gearing and the Windlass, which may bereadily done by any skilled machinist.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a machine for making picket-fences, the main gear F, having a portion of its periphery plain, and adoublegear. b a, on the same shaft and engaging the gears H I, in combination with the hollow journals J K, provided with the arms L, carrying the rotating spools M and guides O, the Windlass Q, connected to a feeding mechanism for moving the pickets on the stringers, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine for making picket-fences the combination of the Windlass Q,band-wheel R, and wrist-pin S, the rock-shaft U, having the curved arms D, the crank (l, and the pitis man T, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS JEFFERSON BULL.

Witnesses:

MATTHEW F. GAMETT, PLAT'I M.'RoBBINs. 

